Lemela

The drone went out first, joining the others; something told her that gears had shifted somehow in the collective.

Was it this Virgil that Ethan kept talking about?

The drones moved with more purpose, leaving almost immediately as the usually buzzing laboratory practically emptied.

She glanced at a confused Zek’lor who was still being helped by a couple of drones of the same species he appeared to be comfortable around.

Her attention was drawn to Xyra as she exited the room, if anything she seemed more pale than before.

-He gave me a choice too, you know? A harsher one possibly.-

She sighed looking at the lab and recalling the events that led her to become what she now was.

-I was dying, going to the nine hells for not having fulfilled my role. For not having the strength needed to save my crew or myself.-

Xyra looked at her before lowering her gaze, shifting her weight from one leg to the other as she kept her large tail firmly on the ground to keep balance.

Maybe her new tail was strong enough to do the same as what Xyra was doing now that she wasn’t hers any longer.

-Lemela, I've seen what it means to join. The modifications, the restoration… It's a path of no return, isn't it?- Xira asked, her tail twitching slightly under her gaze.

-Yes.- Lemela fully knew the answer was obvious, still she stated it plainly and without batting an eyelid.

-I don’t… - she began wanting to explain Ethan’s position but she stopped herself short.

She didn’t understand why the human was so keen on keeping secrecy, but her memory of him still explained to her why.

It was uncanny, but still, she had to oblige the warrior part of herself she so readily embraced.

-As you realize, the ancient machine can breathe life back into the dead. I may already be dead, like them all. Still, my soul endures in this cycle. It might be my penance for not embracing the next one-

Lemela watched Xyra's four-fingered hands tighten into fists, claws almost digging into her flesh.

She had faced trials before, but this was a transformation beyond anything she probably imagined.

Her tail and whole body twitched, a manifestation of the turmoil within her.

-I still want to make a difference, Lemela. I still want to hunt oppression, to ensure no one else suffers as I have.-

Lemela brought her paw to her chin as she caressed her still somewhat silky and soft metallic fur.

-Maybe you will, Xyra. The power you will be given is a force for change. It comes with a responsibility and a price. The responsibility to safeguard the ancient machine and its secrets. Your consciousness will touch others. You will get knowledge you didn’t have before.-

Xyra seemed to hesitate to those words -… will I know you? The real you behind the metal? Will I see the ancient machine’s mind?-

Lemela nodded and smiled a bit – you might discover things aren’t quite as terrifying as you perceive them right now.-

Lemela glanced at Ethan’s form as he came along the corridor; the link they shared was quite useless given the distance involved he probably heard everything.

The human sighed and looked at Xyra.

-You know there are many ways to go about the path you have in mind right, Xyra?-

Xyra nodded, but Lemela could already see the determination in her reptilian eyes, the same determination she held when she embraced the machine before fully knowing.

The desire for revenge, the thirst to have that chance to make things right.

Ethan simply opened the door back again; the carrier drones moved with purpose, their spider-like forms scuttling across the cold metal floor.

Their slender legs climbed upon the metal table as the two newly added Zekarns brought in metal and pieces of old tech.

Lemela questioned a little Ethan’s choice of using the Zekarns, he should have known that Zekarns and Krynnaks were at best rival races, when not enemies.

Ethan should have known Zekarns had enslaved Krynnaks for most of their history together, he had her memories, after all.

But owning Ethan’s memories that was probably the point Ethan was making, once part of the collective, Xyra would not be fully her own anymore.

It wasn’t a bad experience, but still, she knew deep down how and why Ethan would be wary of using that power.

Lemela followed Xyra's gaze fixated on the carried drone, the bridge to a new existence, the promise of change and power.

-Did you offer this power to Vexx?-

Lemela frowned internally at the question Xyra posed, and looked at Ethan as he crossed his arms in front of his metal-clad chest.

-I did not. Nor did he ask for it like you did.-

-Why?- It was a simple and yet complex question, one that only Ethan could or should answer to.

- I will have you answer your own question. Why would I need to do so?-

Lemela looked at Ethan trying to gauge his game, it was a really easy question to answer.

Vexx was a coward, he was a liar, he was in for the money or out of fear.

It would have been way easier to just point out all the negative aspects that would come from associating with that kind of person rather than go that route.

Xyra remained silent, lowering her head and gaze.

-Would you offer him this?-

She asked with a softer almost barely audible tone. -Again, why should I?- Answered Ethan without missing a beat.

Xyra wanted to reply to Ethan but she didn’t find the words.

-If it means being separated from the one you love, you're not so sure anymore; ain't that right? But this is the sacrifice that’s asked out of you to gain the power you desire. You will gain the power, but you will become something else. That’s the bargain. Your Faustian deal. -

A human reference to a pact with the devil, a powerful force of evil that would turn one’s desire against themselves.

She looked at the human with a bit of spite; why was he so hell-bent on playing the bad guy when he wasn’t?

Of course, she knew it was his way to test her, but it was also a way to keep her away from a fate Ethan didn’t fully embrace himself.

- Look Xyra...- She said surprising Ethan. - It's natural to feel conflicted. This decision will not affect just you, but all those you care for. Including Vexx. I won’t pretend it will be easy but I feel you must trust in your strength and the path you've chosen. They will understand you if they really care .-

Lemela felt Ethan asking her what the hell was she doing through the link, but she ignored him for the moment.

-Change is never easy, Xyra.

Accepting the abomination of being tainted by machines wasn’t; at times it still isn’t okay?

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

You carry the weight of a choice that will reshape your existence, in more ways than you can process right now.

That I can testify to you, but I feel you should remember: it also carries the potential for a great purpose, for liberation, for justice if you will.

It will give you the power to set things right and should Vexx care for you he can prove his worth to the machine and be accepted himself right?-

Xyra's eyes met with hers, she recognized gratitude mingled with fading apprehension in those reptilian pupils.

Lemela knew this decision was Xyra’s alone, and it would reshape not just herself, but also her relationships, especially with Vexx.

At the same time, she also pointed out the same fact to both her and Ethan.

With shaking steps and hands Xyra entered the room and picked one of the spider drones from the table under the unflinching gazes of the two Zekarns.

An electric current was generated from the drone, zapping her to unconsciousness as her body slumped to the ground.

Ethan

I watch as the spider-like bot burrows itself into Xyra’s skull disappearing into it as the familiar chime from Virgil pops up.

“Drone creation procedure initialized. Personality construct found. Executing collective protocol. Interface upgrade requested by Ethan. Virtual reality upgrade requested by Ethan. System upgrades will be performed and adaptations will be applied. Rebooting.”

I look at Lemela’s confused expression as the current interface flickers away from her view too.

I now have the confirmation that even not at my level she will continue to function when and if Virgil gets knocked out.

The other drones, well they are another issue entirely but at the very least I want to tackle her interference now that I’m mostly sure Virgil can’t interfere.

-What’s with the big idea? I wanted to talk her out of it...-

She snapped out of her confused state and chuckled a bit.

-Yeah I figured. You still don’t trust this do you?-

She pointed at the metal covering my body, then hers too.

-I don’t either.- she continued -Still, I could see the power it gives you. I could feel everything in that battle, I could see everything. I expected to be hurt but I wasn’t. This is true power. True happiness and fulfillment.-

I frown at her -Didn’t make you out to be the power-thirsty kind...- I cross my arms.

-I know. Look, we have a superior enemy, an enemy that will not relent or give us a quarter. I want to free my crew, I want to end slavery. Heck, if it goes well we will free this system, maybe the whole galaxy of all piracy!-

I sigh, that’s why I hate idealistic people.

-Yeah and by so doing we will become this system or galaxy's next evil to bring down. Need I remind you that your faith sees a cybernetic limb as sacrilegious?-

She lowers her head defeated.

-Yeah you’re right. Still … I mean it’s not like we’re making war on humans and all those species that use them.-

I sigh before replying as she looks at me hopefully. What the fuck are you making kitten eyes to me now?

-That’s only because your religious caste isn’t in charge, and you know it. Your military and the rest of the people understand zealotry will bring nowhere.-

I sigh audibly looking at her. -Look I could be wrong. I hope to be at this point. But you know I fear Virgil is still linked to its former creators.-

Lemela nods back to me – It is your fear you will be offering them an army as well as our souls. But you could always trust Virgil's ability to choose for himself. Artificial Intelligence tends to do that.-

I cross my arms – Like the one that has wiped out the next galaxy over and has the galactic council and my people on a treaty just for the sake of avoiding that to sweep in and do the same in this galaxy? -

Lemela looks fully defeated by my argument, I shake my head and scratch it with my artificial limb.

-There's nothing we can do about that at the moment. Anyway, what’s done is done. We will be speaking to Xyra on the other side when Virgil wakes up again. -

Lemela perks up again only to look confused -Will I know her life like yours?-

I am a bit confused by the statement but I reply nonetheless - No. As far as I know, I have to command Virgil to share a memory. Otherwise, you would have known me from the beginning.-

Lemela chuckles a glint of something in her eyes. -Right, a dumb question now that I think about it. Still… I would like to know it.-

I am a bit curious about her motivations, but I won’t question her.

-I will have to ask you to do something, and as long as it doesn’t impact the mission I will have Virgil share Xyra’s memories with you too.-

-Just order me, and I will have it done-

-Yeah I don’t wanna do that if I can do otherwise. You know as well as I, that a good soldier is not one who simply executes an order, is one who can recognize a bad order and disobey it. I am far from certain I can give you the correct order from afar-

Not to mention I have yet to gather any piece of intel I can believe 100%, but that’s another story.

Tech that can manipulate memory is a thing after all, and the records Virgil has are far from accurate.

I have to go on gut feeling and Occam's razor and they are both far from perfect ways to go about.

Still better to stand still. Maybe she went with her guts on Xyra, and she will reveal to be a good asset.

-Look it may come a time when we will have a lot of people down here, people to keep safe, people that will help us and prisoners. It has come to my attention there’s something wrong with the air. It won’t affect us, because well… but the others?-

Lemela appears to catch on to my point and nods with understanding.

-I got it, I have to look for the climate control room-

Well, she caught on fast apparently, she knows this kind of stuff.

-Yes but not quite, I want you to look around for stragglers, for escaped slaves and people that live down here. There are signs but still, we didn’t bump into them. The drones might scare them, or … well I don’t know. They might be afraid of large groups. You will be behind the scouting party, alone. See if they miss anything. Look distressed, lost, weak. -

Lemela looked at me confused – You want me to act as a prey?-

I nod -Yes. I don’t know if your act will be believable but you have at least to put up with it.-

“System rebooted.” Chirps Virgil as the interface blinks back into my vision.

“New personality construct found. New personality construct integrated into the collective. Initiating virtual reality communication.”

I feel myself move while remaining still, moved into a chamber I feel of grandeur and history, nestled within the heart of an expansive space station.

The floor is bathed in a gentle, diffuse light that emanates from the very material of the chamber itself, casting a soft, inviting glow across the metallic surface.

It gave the impression of walking on a field of gentle luminescence, a stark contrast to the cold steel underfoot.

Tall, arched windows lined the walls, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding cosmos, a canvas of stars that seemed to stretch on infinitely.

Through the towering windows, a ballet of spacecraft danced in the void, shuttles, cruisers, and cargo ships gliding with graceful precision as they navigated the intricate choreography of arrivals and departures.

Massive imposing battleships and carriers were moored at the sidelines, standing guard to the station.

In the background of it all not-so-distant planet, encircled by the gleaming bands of its rings, hung like a celestial jewel in the inky expanse and was lit by the light of a star I couldn’t see at the moment.

The lights of the space engines flickered like distant fireflies, weaving a tapestry of movement against the backdrop of the star-studded canvas.

Banners, each bearing the sigils and emblems of countless alien races, adorned the walls, a visual tapestry of the rich tapestry of civilizations that spanned the galaxies.

I recognized some of the major ones from Virgil's database, like the Ceti Trade pact, but not all of them.

Under each banner stood the seats, arranged in a semicircle, each sculpted to cater to the unique physiology of the races they represented.

Some were sleek and streamlined, others were plush and ornate, all coexisting in harmonious juxtaposition within the metallic confines of the station.

There were things I had trouble defining seats at all too.

The overall design was a fusion of sleek metal and warm wood, bathed into a mix of darkness and soft glowing light.

I recognized this view as the room of the galactic council.

Bathed in a virtual cascade of shimmering light, stood a central podium.

0 and 1 symbols of living light danced in intricate patterns, coalescing intermittently into the shapes of beings I fully knew by now.

For a brief moment, the bits would align shaping my form, for a fleeting moment, the bits would align to form the elegant silhouette of Lemela.

Her feline grace was captured in the flicker of binary code next, the cascade shifted, and a Krynnak materialized, a perfect replica of Xyra.

She was standing tall with her four arms and sharp-clawed hands extended, her not emaciated form balanced by the now stout tail effortlessly.

Yet, for all its grandeur, the room was eerily empty and silent.

The hushed stillness seemed to amplify the weight of the decisions made within these walls as if the very essence of the galaxy held its breath in anticipation.

There were three visible corridors, like veins, offered glimpses into worlds beyond the station's metallic confines.

The first led to my study, a sanctuary of warmth and tradition, of a time before the tech that characterized the vastness of the station.

The second corridor opened onto a breathtaking vista, a lush forest world where colossal trees intertwined like ancient sentinels.

Amongst their branches, a futuristic home perched, seamlessly integrated with the natural environment, and at the same time split open to reveal its inside.

Lemela’s house was a testament to the delicate balance between progress and preservation.

The final corridor revealed a swamp world dominated by industrialized structures that loomed over the murky waters.

The air was thick with the smoke of machinery and the hum of activity, a testament to the resilience and adaptability of life in the face of adversity.

A home stood open and split amid a simple apartment complex that seemed weirdly partly flooded.

Still, it seemed fully functional, each appliance fully insulated and waterproofed and receiving electricity by contact to particular surfaces rather than wires.

Was I to believe that was Xyra’s home world or the place of her former life, like in the case of Lemela?

I see the original form of Lemela as well as a very confused Xyra each entering the room and I notice that each of us comes from its respective home space.

“We welcome you into the first iteration of this Synthetic Collective meeting space of consciousness.

Ethan assigned us the following name tag: Virgil. Feel free to address us as such. Please note: we are code, you are flesh.

We choose a space two of you can recognize as a meeting point of races and cultures. Please note that while your consciousness is in this space the drone that serves as your vessel will be either under charge, under maintenance or otherwise secured by our protocols and sub-processes.

You may return to your home space to resume direct control of your physical form at any time you wish should your physical form still be functional.

You are free to interact as biological beings would. Preemptive warning! Ethan is the over-mind of this Synthetic Collective and as such will be filling the leadership and guiding role.”

A light shines upon me from nowhere above encircling me.

Well fuck, Virgil, you just put me under the literal fucking spotlight.